A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Gainesville vs. Ottawa for Attractions, Nightlife, Food, and Families

Should you visit Gainesville or Ottawa?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Ottawa, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Gainesville

Gainesville is a high energy, active, and vibrant city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Gainesville travel costs.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a cultural, friendly, and welcoming city. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums. See Ottawa travel costs.

Gainesville and Ottawa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Gainesville or Ottawa?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Gainesville than Ottawa. While Ottawa is larger than Gainesville, Gainesville has more sights and attractions for tourists. Ottawa is more touristy than Gainesville and is popular for its history, politics, and green space. Gainesville is well known for being the home of the University of Florida Also, Gainesville is famous for the Florida Museum of Natural History.

How is Gainesville different from Ottawa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Ottawa and Gainesville. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Gainesville or Ottawa?

Both Gainesville and Ottawa have very good landmarks and museums for visitors.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Gainesville can be an interesting and educational experience. There's a surprising number of museums around town such as the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, and the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention. Also fascinating is the Historic Haile Homestead, the Butterfly Rainforest, and the city's planetarium.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Ottawa. As the country's capital, there are a large number of museums to explore. There are summer national museums in town which include the National Gallery of Canada, the Museum of History, the Science and Technology Museum, the Aviation and Space Museum, the Agriculture and Food Museum, the Museum of Nature, and the War Museum.

Is the Food Better in Gainesville or Ottawa? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Gainesville and Ottawa offer notable local cuisine and restaurants.

Gainesville offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Casual eateries are popular around town, particularly with the student population. There are grills, diners, and bistros that serve local dishes at affordable prices.

Ottawa has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The culinary scene highlights many Canadian classics like poutine and maple donuts (and, of course, the classic Tim Horton's), but you'll also find plenty of international options like shawarma.

Is Gainesville or Ottawa Better for Nightlife?

Gainesville is a very popular place for its evening party scene. However, Ottawa is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Gainesville has a large number of nightlife venues. The nightlife centers around the student population. The two main party areas are Midtown and Downtown. Midtown is between Northwest 17th Street and Northwest 18th Street and it's convenient for students who live on campus. The area has a great stretch of bars and clubs. The Downtown area has many of the city's top clubs, and it's popular with upperclassmen and students who live off campus.

Ottawa is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. It's not the first place that comes to mind when you think about partying, but there are live music venues and a some great bars around town.

Is the Shopping Better in Gainesville or Ottawa?

Both Gainesville and Ottawa are notable shopping destinations.

Gainesville is a great destination for shopping. You'll find all of the standard shopping options around town such as malls, shopping centers, and retail outlets. Two popular areas are the Neighborhoods at Butler and Celebration Pointe.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Ottawa. You'll find large malls, outlets, and shopping streets that are fun to browse. Some of the favorite shopping areas include ByWard Market, Sparks Street, and CF Rideau Centre.

Is Gainesville or Ottawa Better for Families?

Gainesville and Ottawa are both notable destinations for the whole family.

Gainesville is a family-friendly place to visit. You'll find outdoor activities, nature parks, and a couple of museums that will appeal to all ages. Highlights for families include A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center, the Adventure Outpost, and Alfred A. Ring Park.

Ottawa is a family-friendly city. As the country's capital, you'll find a number of museums that will keep a kid's attention. In particular, check out the aviation, science, and nature museums. If you have a car, you can head out to Calypso Water Park, which is fun as well.

Is Gainesville or Ottawa Better for Couples?

Gainesville and Ottawa are both notable to visit as a couple.

Gainesville is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy wine tasting and fine dining or enjoying the city's many outdoor activities. Go on a picnic or explore one of the museums in Downtown Gainesville.

Ottawa makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city is filled with parks and green spaces where you can enjoy flowers or peaceful walks. Commissioners Park is particularly nice and known for its tulips during the spring season. Dow's Lake is a nice place for ice skating in the winter or kayaking in the summer. The city also offers a number of romantic restaurants and charming hotels.

Is Gainesville or Ottawa Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Ottawa is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Gainesville is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Ottawa. Although the city is often overlooked by tourists, there are a surprising number of hostels around town.

Gainesville is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not high on the list for many travelers, but there are some cheap motels where budget travelers can stay.

Is Gainesville or Ottawa Better for Students?

Gainesville is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Ottawa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Gainesville is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. As the location of the University of Florida, you'll find many students around town. This keeps the energy high with plenty of evening activities and affordable entertainment options.

Ottawa is popular with students. It appeals to international and Canadian students alike. It's known for its livability and diverse cultural scene.

Is Gainesville or Ottawa Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Gainesville and Ottawa offer notable public transit options.

Gainesville has a few public transit options. There's a decent bus system that's free to students and employees of the university.

Ottawa has some public transit options. There is both a public bus and light rail system.

Is Gainesville or Ottawa a more walkable city?

Gainesville and Ottawa both are notable when exploring on foot.

Gainesville is somewhat walkable. Biking is actually a popular way to get around town and some areas are pedestrian-friendly.

Ottawa is a somewhat walkable place. Many of the urban neighborhoods are very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Gainesville Worth Visiting? and Is Ottawa Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Ottawa or Gainesville?

How long in Gainesville or Ottawa?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Gainesville and Ottawa. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Ottawa than in Gainesville. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Gainesville, and 2-3 days is enough time in Ottawa.

Couples should spend more time in Gainesville than Ottawa. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Gainesville that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ottawa than Gainesville if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Ottawa.

One day in Gainesville or Ottawa?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Gainesville. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the welcoming city of Ottawa. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Gainesville or Ottawa?

Gainesville is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the welcoming destination of Ottawa. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Gainesville or Ottawa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Gainesville. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The friendly city of Ottawa offers museums and food. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Gainesville or Ottawa?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the high energy destination of Gainesville. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Many people enjoy the food and shopping when visiting Ottawa. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gainesville and Ottawa, we can see that Gainesville is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ottawa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ottawa and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Gainesville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gainesville than you might in Ottawa.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gainesville Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Gainesville or Ottawa?

Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Gainesville. When comparing the sizes of Gainesville and Ottawa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Gainesville or Ottawa?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Gainesville or Ottawa in the Summer?

Both Ottawa and Gainesville during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Gainesville in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Ottawa for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Gainesville is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Gainesville average around 81°F (27°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Gainesville. Gainesville usually gets more rain in July than Ottawa. Gainesville gets 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Gainesville or Ottawa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Gainesville and Ottawa. Most visitors come to Gainesville for the shopping scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Ottawa because of the shopping scene.

Gainesville is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Gainesville averages around 71°F (22°C) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In October, Gainesville usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Gainesville gets 2 inches (51 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The hurricane season in Gainesville is June to November.

Should I visit Gainesville or Ottawa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Gainesville as well as Ottawa. The winter months attract visitors to Gainesville because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ottawa this time of year.

It's quite cold in Ottawa in the winter. In the winter, Gainesville is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Gainesville in January average around 54°F (12°C), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).

Gainesville usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Gainesville gets 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Gainesville or Ottawa in the Spring?

Both Ottawa and Gainesville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In April, Gainesville is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Gainesville average around 69°F (20°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).

In April, Gainesville usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Gainesville gets 2 inches (50 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring. June to November is the hurricane season in Gainesville.

Typical Weather for Ottawa and Gainesville